Braces and Good Oral Hygiene
Author: Janice NowakowskiEveryone knows to brush their teeth. How often should someone with braces brush and floss? And for how long? The answer is brush after every meal for at least three minutes and floss daily. Brushing after each meal or snack will help keep teeth clean and strong and help the braces actually move your teeth better. When your gums are puffy and swollen it becomes difficult for the ties or ligatures to engage around the brackets. Without proper force the wires cannot move the teeth as well. Making sure to maintain good oral hygiene will lead to finishing treatment on time and a healthier mouth and smile.
Early Intervention
Author: Teresa ErvinThe American Board of Orthodontics recommends that children have an Orthodontia evaluation as early as 7 years old to allow the Orthodontist to monitor the facial development, growth patterns, exfoliation of the primary teeth, and proper eruption of the permanent teeth. Two conditions that require early intervention are crossbites and protruding teeth. A crossbite can cause the jaws to grow unevenly. Front teeth that stick out may be fractured or injured in an accident, such as a fall. More treatment usually is needed later on, but it may be shorter and less involved.
Cookies for Retainers
Author: UnknownThe best way to maintain your new smile after the braces come off is with diligent retainer wear. But what if your retainer is lost or broken? Retainers can be expensive, so we have come up with a more popular way to replace them. A patient can choose one of three options. 1) Pay full price, 2) Write the story of what happened to the retainer and get a percentage off the replacement cost, or 3) Write the story and bring in homemade cookies or brownies for the office as payment. The third option is the favorite of the staff, and the one parents seem to prefer.
WildSmiles
Author: UnknownWho says all braces are created equal? WildSmiles brackets offer you the ability to personalize your smile while wearing braces. They were designed by a Board Certified Orthodontist and made from quality stainless steel. WildSmiles come in a variety of shapes, including Flowers, Hearts, Baseballs, Diamonds and Footballs, which can be mixed and matched in any combination. You can still add the colored alastics with them. The choices are endless to make your smile your own unique work of art. WildSmiles work the same as traditional braces, but just look so cool!
Factors to Consider
Author: UnknownThere are many factors to consider when planning orthodontic treatment. Among the many factors are: the stage of development of the teeth, the proportion of the jaws to each other and to the rest of the face, the position of the teeth within the jaws, the degree or the extent of the crowding, and the maturity and level of co-operation of the patient. In order for us to assess the nature of the problem and to plan the appropriate treatment for you, or your child, we need to: examine the mouth and study the proportions of the face, take photographs of the mouth and face, and take x-rays of the teeth and head to analyze. After this examination and analysis, we can consider the methods of treatment and prepare a treatment plan appropriate for the condition. We will then discuss the treatment plan, the fees involved for the treatment, and answer any questions that you may have. In many cases, the braces can be put on within a week.
Types of Braces
Author: UnknownTraditional metal brackets are the most common type of braces and are more comfortable today than ever before. Made of high grade stainless steel, they now come in both fun shapes (flowers, stars, diamonds and footballs) or gold. With metal braces you have the option of adding colored elastics for a more unique and colorful smile. We offer ceramic braces that are made of clear materials and are less visible on your teeth. Clear appliances such as Invisalign use a series of invisible, removable and comfortable aligners to straighten your teeth. The choice is yours. We are here to help!